How to Adjust Paragraph Spacing in Microsoft Word

Learn how to adjust paragraph spacing in Microsoft Word including the spacing before and after individual paragraphs and the entire document.
These steps apply to Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2021, Word 2019, Word 2016, and Word 2013.
🍎If you are on a Mac, please see "How to Adjust Paragraph Spacing in Word for Mac" • How to Adjust Paragrap...
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:09 How to Adjust the Space Before and After Individual Paragraphs
03:00 How to Adjust the Space Before and After all Paragraphs
03:56 What about the Built-In Paragraph Spacing Options?
📝 Companion Blog Post/Transcript for this Video
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How to Adjust Paragraph Spacing in Microsoft Word
erinwrightwrit...
💻 Related Resources
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How to Use Microsoft Word (Playlist)
• How to Use Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word Basics (Playlist)
• Microsoft Word Basics
💻 Please visit my website at erinwrightwrit... for more writing-related software tutorials.
Thank you for watching!
#microsoftword #microsoft365
All Rights Reserved © 2024 Erin Wright

[@erinwrightwriting]

All the steps shown here are listed with images on my website at erinwrightwriting.com/adjust-paragraph-spacing-in-microsoft-word/. Thank you for watching!

[@headtotoefitness]

Easy to understand.keep it up

[@erinwrightwriting]

Thank you so much!

[@patriciadanna7433]

Thanks. A clear and precise presentation that I as someone not very technical can understand. Much appreciated.

[@erinwrightwriting]

Thank you so much for your kind words!

[@CharlesWhite-vc5sv]

I am impressed. An excellent tutorial. Your speaking speed is just right and highlighting the actions to be taken is perfect. Many other tutorials ignore these basic facts; speak too fast and the mouse is moved so quickly that one has to replay the video umpteen times to try and understand the presentation. I understood this presentation very quickly - thank you.

[@erinwrightwriting]

Thank you for taking the time to share such a kind comment! I wish you all the best with your Word projects!

[@artok3897]

When should I choose to add some space before a paragraph? Could you, please, give an example of its necessity?

[@erinwrightwriting]

Great question! You may want to add space to increase readability or make particular text stand out. You may also want to add space to create distance from nearby tables, figures, or images.

[@adeebrooknodien1902]

Thank you!

[@erinwrightwriting]

Thank you for watching!

[@shubhamsoni6035]

Good tutorial👍👍

[@erinwrightwriting]

Thank you so much!

[@k22732]

Thanks 👍

[@erinwrightwriting]

Thank you for watching!

[@rentedthriftedreal]

Is there a way to keep text on an entire page -- right now if there's a new paragraph that's 4 lines and only enough space at the bottom of a page for 2 lines, it moves the whole paragraph to the next page. I want the first 2 sentences on the bottom of the page, then the next 2 sentences on the next page.

[@erinwrightwriting]

Great question! You can change how paragraphs break between pages by selecting the entire document or just the affected paragraph. Then, right-click and select Paragraph from the shortcut menu. Select the Line and Page Breaks tab. Then, uncheck Widow/Orphan control and uncheck Keep lines together. Select the OK button. I hope that helps!

[@rentedthriftedreal]

@@erinwrightwriting thank you!! So kind to answer

[@elisabettamorkozzo6533]

Hi, thanks for your videos.
So for what I've learned: I NEVER have to hit the key space more than one time between words and in ANY another circumstance. But instead ONLY use the paragraph indentation to move horizontally and for the vertical spaces ONLY use the “above paragraph spacing” or the “below paragraph spacing” and NEVER the return, return, return, return...? ok? Thanks…

[@erinwrightwriting]

It sounds like you have a good handle on things! Thank you for watching!

[@charmleneboni]

How do I type an em dash?

[@erinwrightwriting]

Thank you so much for watching! I have an older video that shows a variety of ways to insert special characters, including the em dash: ua-cam.com/video/168W56wfoh0/v-deo.html.

[@charmleneboni]

@@erinwrightwriting thanks 😊

[@Intercoaster]

In Word 2021, I've found that there's no way you can squeeze down the space between paragraphs below the default setting.

[@pathumanuradha5581]

I love yu

[@erinwrightwriting]

You are very kind. Thank you for watching!

[@pathumanuradha5581]

@@erinwrightwriting it's a pleasure to be here on this platform.